World’s Smallest 5 Axis Milling Machine – Pocket NC V2

Milling Machine: The idea of additive ᴍᴀɴufacturing, or 3D printing, is understood by the majority of individuals. The part is built layer by layer, starting from the ground up. With a sharp tool, material is removed from a solid piece of stock during the subtractive process of milling to reveal the part inside.

Computer Numerical Control is referred to as CNC. This indicates that a set of codes and numbers produced by a computer are used to operate the device. Software can produce these codes or they can be typed out line by line in a text file. For additional details on the software you need, keep reading.

5 Axis: Don’t worry if you’re having problems picturing what “5 axes” would signify. It’s much simpler than it seems. Three linear axes can normally be moved simultaneously by milling machines. This can be seen in a milling machine, where the cutting tool can move up and down while the item mounted to the table can move back and forth in the X and Y axes (Z-axis). The Pocket NC may also spin about the X-axis (A axis) and the Y-axis since there are two additional rotational axes of movement (B axis). The biggest advantage is that the part can now have ᴍᴀɴy faces machined without needing to fixture it.

As a husband and wife team, we have been working on the Pocket NC for more than 4 years. We expanded our personnel along the way to fill knowledge and sᴋɪʟʟ gaps. We are passionate about developing an affordable 5-axis machine that can produce high-quality parts, allowing others to iterate on their designs without having to pay the high expenses associated with sending components to a machine shop. We are makers and tinkerers ourselves. We have gone through five hardware iterations, three different machine controllers, and this process. This indicates that we have taken the time to develop the machine for ᴍᴀɴufactureability in addition to bringing it to a high degree of functionality.